Watchdog

Strange but true: There were far more journalists and people in suits (and even some journalists in suits) at CBS’ event Tuesday previewing its Super Bowl coverage in New Orleans than there were at the Rex Ryan/Woody Johnson presser at the same time.

Such is the power of the Super Bowl, an event that draws from the worlds of sports, news, business and show biz. (Plus, CBS’ event was catered.)

Speaking...

The big sports-related news out of the Oscar nominations Thursday was that for the first time, not one but two best picture nominees are about Eagles fans: “Silver Linings Playbook’’ and “Les Miserables.’’

Sorry. Couldn’t resist. Anyway, more about “Silver Linings Playbook’’ closer to the actual awards show. For now let us focus on more immediate sports movie news:

Monday MLB Network...

In this week's installment of "Whither Mike Francesa?" we check in with Dan Mason, president of CBS Radio. So, sir, are you hopeful of re-signing the big guy?

"We’re always hopeful for that," Mason said. "Mike’s a big part of the radio station, so we are hopeful of that."

Francesa has not said much about his future since telling Newsday last January he is...

Let me be the last to weigh in on the matter of Katherine Webb, beauty pageant winner, aspiring model (including, reportedly, a spot in SI's Swimsuit Issue) and close personal friend of Alabama quarterback AJ McCarron.

Was it a tad creepy and uncomfortable when ESPN's Brent Musburger gushed over Ms. Webb's appearance during Monday night's BCS National Championship Game?

No doubt. But...

Well, hello there, WatchDog Nation. I'm here for one of my periodic Friday visits, ready to blog like in olden times (7/2/07 - 10/28/09).

Today we begin with Bob Knight, the ESPN analyst who last night worked the Kentucky vs. Vanderbilt game in Nashville.

Normally I don't watch college hoops before March, but a close relative recently was accepted into Vanderbilt University so I suddenly...

Lionel Messi, known as the world's best soccer player, was featured on the first episode of "60 Minutes Sports" on Showtime on Wednesday night.

See a preview of the episode below:

...

A complete transcript of an interesting conversation I had with CBS analyst Bill Cowher Tuesday at an event to promote the network's coverage of SB47:

First, I asked Cowher whether with all of the openings around the league he was tempted by any of them. He said this:

"No, no, no, no. Hey, we have the Super Bowl. All these coaches are trying to get there. I know I'm going to be...

ESPN said it chose not to renew the contract of commentator Rob Parker, which expired at the end of 2012.

Parker, a former Newsday columnist, had been suspended for one month after comments he made Dec. 13 on ESPN2's "First Take" in which he discussed Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III's relationship with the African-American community, questioning whether he is an inauthentic...

Do salsa and milk go well together? Victor Cruz believes so.

The Giants receiver is the latest celebrity to sport a milk mustache, launching the Breakfast Blitz program as a part of his partnership with National Milk Mustache "got milk?" campaign and Fuel Up to Play 60.

As a part of the Breakfast Blitz program, which helps highlight the importance of milk in a healthy breakfast,...

Kobe Bryant joined Twitter on Friday, and the world has rejoiced.

He posted his first tweet at 12:13 p.m. ET, and in the four hours and 13 minutes since, he has gained 250,329 followers. (That number will likely increase by the time I hit the "save & view" button in our CMS.) Only 3 percent of them were fake, according to StatusPeople.

His first (and only, so far) tweet...